The best sports teams are not comprised of individual stars, but rather team players. Likewise, the best army is the army that functions as one, where everyone covers their buddy’s back. So too, the church must function with unity if it’s to be effective in its calling to represent Christ in the world. The Apostle Paul tells the church that we are to “grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:15-16). If we’re to truly be part of the Body of Christ we must be fully engaged―living, loving, serving, sacrificing―losing ourselves for the sake of others. Body life is vital and warm; it has a pulse. God doesn’t permit benchwarmers, spectators and critics; He has called us all to enter the game without reservation. This kind of living sacrifice is our reasonable service―it’s the sacrifice of love―and this is the love that edifies the Body.